Mystery solved

So, I like to think my general media sources and the vast majority of my FB friends are pretty thoughtful. As a result, I really had not seen any knee-jerk reactions today to the horrible events in Dallas. Nobody looking for simplistic blame. I’ve seen plenty of references to simplistic blame, but had not actually read directly of any (then again, I only used twitter today to directly seek stuff on polling). But now I know. The Lieutenant Governor of Texas. Lovely.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick joined a handful of other Texas Republican officials Friday in blaming former Black Lives Matter protests for the shooting in Dallas Thursday night that left at least five police officers dead.

“I do blame people on social media with their hatred towards police,” Patrick said during an interview on Fox News on Friday. He added that, despite the “peaceful” nature of last night’s protests, he blames previous Black Lives Matter events for the incident.

He also blames protesters at the event critical of law enforcement for expecting protection from them when shots were fired.

“All those protesters last night, they ran the other way, expecting the men and women in blue to turn around and protect them,” Patrick said. “What hypocrites!”

Patrick wasn’t the only Texas Republican to link the Black Lives Matter movement to the shooting in Dallas on Friday. State Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, tweeted similar allegations.

In a separate tweet, he said the “hands up, don’t shoot” rhetoric often used in Black Lives Matter events “is a lie” the media needs to dispel.

U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, also pointed to the movement as a source of tension during an appearance on Fox Business and said President Obama has been “divisive” in his handling of tensions between African-Americans and law enforcement.

Ugh. Should have just looked to Texas (though I’m sure it’s everywhere if you look hard enough). And you know what, all white people are responsible for Dylan Roof.